I've Never thought about getting botox until…

I started to see some deeper lines appearing on my forehead. I thought to myself, "I have some incredible skincare at my disposal, but will Botox give me an extra layer of defense in preventative care?"

Now before I get to this, I need to express that I truly believe everyone has the right to do what they want to their body. I do not believe in shaming anyone for the choices they make or procedures they undergo to better themselves and ultimately give them a boost of confidence. Injectables, plastic surgery, and medical cosmetic procedures are not for everyone and if it's not for you then there is still some incredible skincare out on the market that can help mitigate the aging process. 

My goal here on Groom&Comb is to help you find information and products that will ultimately give you an extra level confidence that you maybe didn't have before. To develop a relationship with yourself, value your heart and your mind as well as the skin you live in. Treat it with care and it will reward you with confidence that will illuminate any room you walk into. When you have that pep in your step from looking in the mirror and saying "Damn I look good today!" does wonders for the way you interact with the world. 

About a month ago I met with Dr. Min Ahn at the Aesthetic Wellness Center in Westborough, Massachusetts. Dr. Ahn is a renowned facial plastic surgeon in the Boston area that has quite literally written the book on injectables. He very confidently and kindly answered every questions I ever had about Botox as I had tried to avoid it for as long as possible. His office staff were all equally as warm and caring so I know I was in good hands. I mention this because this is important to seek out in your practitioner. After all, this is your face that you have to wear every day and you want to know that they truly care about your concerns and potential outcomes.

Now that we know the who, why, and where- let's get to the good stuff!

What is botox?

Botox is used medically to treat certain muscular conditions, and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles. It is made from a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. So technically, it's a poison. But before you freak out- it's a heavily researched ingredient that is also the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment, with more than 6 million Botox treatments administered each year.

Despite it's seemingly sinister roots, botulinum toxin (BOTOX) has proven to be a successful and valuable therapeutic protein. It can be injected into humans in extremely small concentrations and works by preventing signals from the nerve cells reaching muscles, therefore paralyzing them.

Do i Need It?

I don't think anyone necessarily "needs" any form of injectable if they're happy with how they look and follow a decent skin care routine. But if you want to freshen up your face in a subtle way Botox is the way to go. It softens and smooths deep lines that are harder to camouflage. Prior to meeting with Dr. Ahn, I had never thought about receiving Botox. I was okay with the soft lines in my forehead but then realized as I approach my mid-30's (ouch) those lines were getting deeper. As Dr. Ahn explains, "Botox is a fantastic preventative skin care measure to avoid more invasive cosmetic procedures later in life."  

For decades women have quietly and no more openly embraced injectables like botox as a way to freshen up. More and more men are embracing this trend- many in the public eye that you would never know benefit from Botox. Politicians, athletes, actors, and musicians have all used Botox as a way to freshen and bring some youth back to the face. There should be no shame, and don't think for a minute that botox is a "woman's thing" either. The want and desire to look fresh and youthful knows no gender.

When to Get it

If you look in the mirror and you see fine/deep lines around your eyes and forehead when relaxed then you're definitely a candidate. If, at rest, your face is little to no fine lines or wrinkles then hold off. A youthful face, after all, is one that moves, and an overly stiff forehead or expressionless smile tends to register, however subtly, as off. If fine lines and wrinkles are not an issue for you but you want to start a less invasive process to prevent wrinkles then invest in regular facials and quality skincare.

Botox and Men 

Dr. Ahn explained that there are special facial contours and muscular groups that work differently within men and women. I expressed that I wanted to keep some of the lines and features of my face mobile that I feel add to my character. I learned that a little goes a long way with botox and any Botox administrator that tries to tell you need more than what you ask for needs to explain why. 

Men traditionally have heavier brow bones and so Dr. Ahn explained to me that botox in the area highlighted in green is a danger zone if you want to avoid even droopier eye lids. Because of my genetics (come on Puerto Rican Genes!) and a consistently effective skin care regimen I didn't need botox any where else. Me raising my brows is a big part of my normal facial expressions so we decided to inject a minimal amount of Botox.

Does It Hurt?

The short answer is no. An experienced injector will know exactly where and how to inject. A little tiny sting a couple times and it was over.  Rebecca Hoffey was my nurse that did my injections and she immediately put me at ease. She walked me through the entire process and answered all of my questions thoroughly. Once we were ready to begin, Nurse Hoffey had me lift my brows up to highlight the areas of concern and show me where we were going to injecting the Botox.

What are the side effects?

Botox has been used for many years to safely diminish and erase the facial lines and wrinkles of millions of individuals. Although there are some risks associated with Botox Injections, side effects are generally mild and cause little discomfort. The injections may cause minor bruising, but this fades quickly and can be easily concealed with make-up. Immediately following the treatment I had a little redness at the sigh of injection and had a minor headache for a day. Other than that, a week later I was mesmerized by new smoother forehead.

The Takeaway

I'm about a month and a half out from when I had my first ever Botox injections and I'm thrilled. My face is mobile, I feel like myself, and the lines in my forehead that were starting to deepen have been softened and are nearly invisible. 

There are a lot of people that have told me men should have wrinkles. That men look better rugged and aged. But I don't subscribe to anything men "should" do or look like. If it makes you feel better, a little more confident, and happier while still feeling like yourself then go for it! And if your masculinity is slightly fragile then call it "Brotox". ; )

If you're in the Boston Area then visiting Dr. Ahn and his team at the Aesthetic Wellness Center is a must. Follow them on Instagram and don't be shy to ask questions. Scroll through some before's and after's below for more examples of what Botox can do for you.  And if you've ever had botox or thinking about it send me a message, would love to hear what you think!